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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Epidemiology and control of equine strongylosis at Newmarket...
Equine veterinary journal1986; 18(6); 447-452; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1986.tb03684.x

Epidemiology and control of equine strongylosis at Newmarket.

Abstract: Seasonal rises in mean faecal egg output were observed in grazing ponies in spring (578 eggs per gram) and in summer (930 epg) on 30 April and 2 September, respectively, in untreated ponies. Pasture infectivity reached a peak of 18,486 third stage larvae (L3)/kg on 17 September, two weeks after peak egg counts, coincidental with abundant September rainfall (103.0 mm). Differentiation of infective larvae from pasture showed the cyathostomes (small strongyles) to be predominant, but Trichostrongylus axei assumed major importance from late August to October. The large strongyles were rarely detected: Strongylus vulgaris was found only once and S edentatus only twice. The most effective parasite prophylaxis was achieved by twice weekly removal of faeces. In this group, concentrations of infective L3 on pasture reached a maximum of 1000 L3/kg, compared to 18,486 L3/kg for a control group and 4850 to 10,210 L3/kg for anthelmintic treatment groups. The removal of faeces increased the grazing area by about 50 per cent, by eliminating the characteristic separation of horse pasture into roughs and lawns. Spring and summer anthelmintic treatments of mature ponies with oxibendazole were effective in reducing the late season rise in pasture infectivity to 4850 L3/kg, but treatment of young ponies (mainly yearlings) with ivermectin every eight weeks or oxibendazole every four weeks resulted in pasture infectivity as high as 10,000 L3/kg. There was evidence of cyathostome resistance to benzimidazole drugs.
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Publication Date: 1986-11-01 PubMed ID: 3803357DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1986.tb03684.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research focuses on the study and control of equine strongylosis, a type of parasite infestation in horses, at Newmarket. Its finding suggests that removing horse faeces twice per week was the most effective prevention strategy, despite implementing various anthelmintic treatments.

Survey of Strongylosis Incidence

  • The research observed seasonal fluctuations in faecal egg output in untreated grazing horses at Newmarket. Significant surges appeared during spring (578 eggs per gram) and summer (930 eggs per gram) times on April 30th and September 2nd respectively.
  • The highest concentration of third stage larvae (L3) on pasture peaked at 18,486 L3 per kg on September 17th, approximately two weeks following the peak egg output. This rise coincided with the abundant September rainfall (103.0 mm).
  • The infective larvae from pasture consisted predominantly of cyathostomes (small strongyles) with Trichostrongylus axei becoming significantly prevalent from late August through to October. Large strongyles such as Strongylus vulgaris and S edentatus were rarely detected.

Preventive Measures and Their Effectiveness

  • Among the preventive measures tested, twice-weekly removal of horse faeces from pasture was found to be the most effective strategy in limiting the concentration of L3 on pasture, with numbers reaching a maximum of 1000 L3 per kg.
  • This approach also considerably increased the available grazing area by about 50% by eliminating the characteristic division of horse pasture into ‘roughs’ and ‘lawns’.
  • Compare to this, the use of anthelmintic treatments resulted in higher L3 concentrations on pasture, with numbers ranging from 4850 to 10,210 L3 per kg.

Effectiveness of Anthelmintic Treatments

  • Using oxibendazole on mature horses in spring and summer managed to reduce the late season rise in pasture infectivity to 4850 L3 per kg.
  • However, treatment of young horses (mainly yearlings) with ivermectin every eight weeks or oxibendazole every four weeks led to pasture infectivity as high as 10,000 L3 per kg.
  • There was also proof of cyathostome resistance to benzimidazole drugs, suggesting that the effectiveness of these drugs may be compromised.

Cite This Article

APA
Herd RP. (1986). Epidemiology and control of equine strongylosis at Newmarket. Equine Vet J, 18(6), 447-452. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1986.tb03684.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 6
Pages: 447-452

Researcher Affiliations

Herd, R P

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
    • England
    • Feces / parasitology
    • Horses
    • Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
    • Seasons
    • Strongyle Infections, Equine / drug therapy
    • Strongyle Infections, Equine / epidemiology
    • Strongyle Infections, Equine / prevention & control

    Citations

    This article has been cited 14 times.
    1. Osterman-Lind E, Holmberg M, Grandi G. Selective Anthelmintic Treatment in Horses in Sweden Based on Coprological Analyses: Ten-Year Results. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 28;13(17).
      doi: 10.3390/ani13172741pubmed: 37685005google scholar: lookup
    2. Elghryani N, McOwan T, Mincher C, Duggan V, de Waal T. Estimating the Prevalence and Factors Affecting the Shedding of Helminth Eggs in Irish Equine Populations. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 7;13(4).
      doi: 10.3390/ani13040581pubmed: 36830368google scholar: lookup
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      doi: 10.3390/ani12223093pubmed: 36428321google scholar: lookup
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      doi: 10.3390/ani10040638pubmed: 32272754google scholar: lookup
    5. Tinkler SH. Preventive chemotherapy and anthelmintic resistance of soil-transmitted helminths - Can we learn nothing from veterinary medicine?. One Health 2020 Jun;9:100106.
      doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2019.100106pubmed: 31956691google scholar: lookup
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      doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2014.10.003pubmed: 25516842google scholar: lookup
    8. Corbett CJ, Love S, Moore A, Burden FA, Matthews JB, Denwood MJ. The effectiveness of faecal removal methods of pasture management to control the cyathostomin burden of donkeys. Parasit Vectors 2014 Jan 24;7:48.
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    10. Hinney B, Wirtherle NC, Kyule M, Miethe N, Zessin KH, Clausen PH. A questionnaire survey on helminth control on horse farms in Brandenburg, Germany and the assessment of risks caused by different kinds of management. Parasitol Res 2011 Dec;109(6):1625-35.
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    11. Getachew M, Feseha G, Trawford A, Reid SW. A survey of seasonal patterns in strongyle faecal worm egg counts of working equids of the central midlands and lowlands, Ethiopia. Trop Anim Health Prod 2008 Dec;40(8):637-42.
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    12. Hedberg Alm Y, Tydén E, Martin F, Lernå J, Halvarsson P. Farm size and biosecurity measures associated with Strongylus vulgaris infection in horses. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):703-711.
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    13. Elghryani N, Lawlor A, McOwan T, de Waal T. Unravelling the Effectiveness of Anthelmintic Treatments on Equine Strongyles on Irish Farms. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jul 2;14(13).
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    14. Abbas G, Stevenson MA, Bauquier J, Beasley A, Jacobson C, El-Hage C, Wilkes EJA, Carrigan P, Cudmore L, Hurley J, Beveridge I, Nielsen MK, Hughes KJ, Jabbar A. Assessment of worm control practices recommended by equine veterinarians in Australia. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1305360.
      doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1305360pubmed: 38026649google scholar: lookup
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